Meet our Team
Patricia Alvarado, LPCC/LMHC
Director & Licensed Psychotherapist
Yessenia Arevalo,
LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Yesenia Guerrero, MSW
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Vanessa Gutierrez, MSW
Mental Health Coach
Lucy Plascencia,
MS
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Dominique Negrette,
MA
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Patricia Alvarado
Director & Licensed Psychotherapist
My experience comes from various schools of thoughts, through a multicultural lens that includes Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution Focused Treatment utilizing a strengths-based approach.
I am a licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of California and a licensed mental health counselor in the state of New York. I received my Master’s of Arts in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University in California and have extensive training in crisis intervention and trauma treatment working with Victims of Crime, within community mental health agencies, and private practice.
I explore situations in the here and now in order to provide a listening ear to understand your needs. I have experience working with women’s issues, relationships, crisis intervention, trauma focused treatment, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, substance abuse, and parenting. My areas of expertise include exploring trauma as well as parent/child relationships. Each can be unique on their own or intertwined together as trauma (generational, etc.) can have an affect in the way that we parent. My work aims to understand the underlying concerns that are causing stressful situations and mal-adaptive behaviors. Through active listening, approaching things with empathy, and from a non-judgmental standpoint, my hope is that we can work together to help create trust within the therapeutic relationship.
The experiences that I have gained volunteering on the Suicide Prevention Hotline, various shelters in Los Angeles including the Downtown Women’s Shelter, and my experience within community/mental health allow me to offer various perspectives and see things from a different lens. This creates an opportunity for creative interventions that allow us to truly experience change within the therapeutic relationship.
Qualifications
Trainings & Techniques
- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Acute Traumatic Incident Processing (A-TIP)
- Critical Incident Desensitization (CID)
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Positive Parenting Strategies (Triple P)
- Incredible Years for Children and Families
- Seeking Safety
- Brief Response to Crisis (BRC/CORS)/Crisis Oriented Recovery Services
- MBSR-T/Stressed Teens Mindfulness Program
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
- Problem Solving Treatment (PST) for Depression
- Motivational Interviewing
- Certified Grief Educator
Professional Practice
- EMDRIA Approved Consultant in Training (CIT)
- Clinical Supervisor with Beacon Health Options
- Counselor with The College of Westchester
- Clinical Therapist with Crespo Mental Health
- Lead Clinical Therapist at USC’s Violence Intervention Program
- Clinical Therapist with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
- Psychotherapist with California Victims of Crime Program
- Counselor on the Suicide Prevention Hotline
- Private Practice
Yessenia Arevalo
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
My approach to therapy is tailored to meet your specific needs and goals, while considering your intersectionalities and using inclusive, affirming language and concepts. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Interpersonal Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Problem Solving Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing and Strengths Based Approaches. I guide interventions using a trauma informed lens while being client centered focus. I aim to facilitate a deeper understanding of your experiences, challenge harmful thought patterns, and develop healthy coping mechanisms all with the intention of strengthening your interpersonal relationships and individuality.
I am a proud Salvadoran born in Arizona, raised in Los Angeles, and a first generation college graduate. I received my Bachelors of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Women, Gender, Sexuality studies at California State University, Los Angeles. I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Post graduation, I had the opportunity to provide mental health services within a Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking shelter. I then transitioned to a Department of Mental Health contracted agency, working with children, youth, families and adults who were experiencing depression, suicidality, anxiety, challenging interpersonal relationships, the complexities of acculturation, and personality disorders. I have vast experience in school crisis response and community mental health.
My therapeutic style best aligns with people who are experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, intergenerational trauma, challenging family dynamics, issues related to identity, social pressures, and grief. I firmly believe in meeting you where you are in your healing journey and I do this by collaborating with you to develop attainable and achievable goals that best fit your needs. Creating a safe space while building trust is of utmost importance as it allows us to develop effective tools that help you deal with day to day challenges while empowering you along the way. Above all, my goal is to ensure that you feel seen and heard during our work together in order to assist you in building healthy relationships and boundaries that will support your journey.
As a clinical social worker, I value the importance of creating a safe, non-judgmental space for everyone I work with by validating their experience, actively listening, and promoting self-exploration. I prioritize interventions that empower you to gain the autonomy and skills that will assist you in navigating challenging life stressors.
Vanessa Gutierrez
Mental Health Coach
As a social worker I value integrity. I am sensitive to cultural and social diversity and empower vulnerable populations through self-determination. I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from California State University, Long Beach.
I have been in the field of social work for the past 5 years and within the educational field cumulatively for 12 years working with vulnerable families
struggling with psychosocial and social issues. My active listening skills can be shown through my ability to connect with others on a deeper level and help them through their process to manage stressful situations. My experience ranges from clients as young as 5years old to older adults suffering from severe mental illnesses.
I have provided individual and group therapy as well as coaching to at-risk clients struggling with academic, social, behavioral, and emotional problems. I use various tools to identify symptoms and implement evidence-based interventions that address clinical symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and other clinical issues. I have experience in crisis intervention and after care plans, partnering with both clients and parents alike. My knowledge within the mental health field also includes providing wraparound services, intensive case management, and assisting clients with various life transitions varying from navigating housing support to vocational and educational linkages.
My goal is to help you understand the fundamental issues that are difficult for you to manage. Using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), along with a Cognitive Behavioral approach (CBT), my hope is to create a therapeutic relationship where you are provided with the ability to bounce back from challenges with a stronger sense of self, confidence, and coping capacity to get through adversity. With empathy and active listening, my hope is to build trust and create a unique approach together that works for you to improve your quality of life.
I believe in meaningful connections. I believe that establishing this connection and providing a safe environment for vulnerability is a vital gateway that will support overall growth. With compassion and from a non-judgmental approach, my goal is to support the healing process by understanding the underlying issues causing suffering.
Yesenia Guerrero
Associate Clinical Social Worker
As a therapist, I believe in the importance of a strength-based approach to allow you to regain control of your value, power, and mental health.
I received my Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Sociology and Global Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara where I developed a passion for understanding systems of oppression that affect individual and community mental health. I went on to receive my Master of Social Work degree with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from California State University, Long Beach. I am currently registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker.
My experience includes trauma-informed individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and suicide and crisis intervention. I have provided services to children ages 5+ and adults. I specialize in mental health services for survivors of domestic violence, children and families, and parenting support with a focus on trauma-informed approaches that take into account your lived experiences and the existing systems that affect your day-to-day mental health. We can begin your mental health journey to address depression, anxiety, trauma, intergenerational healing, or anything else you are ready to process with the use of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Please know that you do not have to do this alone.
Lucy Plascencia
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
I consider myself a strong and encouraging force to those around me and as your therapist, I am committed to supporting your growth, goals and mental health. I am a curious, direct and compassionate therapist that will serve as a guiding light in difficult and triumphant moments.
I value my work as a counselor and am excited to work with you to help you find your most actualized and empowered self!
A bit about my background, I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles into a large and vibrant Mexican family. This sparked my love of community and curiosity of human relationships! When I’m not working, I enjoy bike riding, learning about social issues, tending to my many houseplants, thrifting vintage clothes and furniture and spending time with my loved ones.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Community Based Multicultural Counseling and Social Justice Education from San Diego State University and I am registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC). I have six years of experience working with youth and adults as a former educator, counselor and mental health therapist. I have worked in outpatient mental health, community mental health clinics, high schools and higher education settings. I specialize in working with youth and adults facing self-esteem challenges, seeking to build healthy relationships, battling depression and anxiety, grief/loss, gender and sexuality, trauma and working with marginalized communities such as people of color, and folks in the LGBTQ community.
Along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I utilize Person Centered Therapy, Attachment theory, gender affirming, sex positive and feminist based approaches. My counseling approach embodies a trauma-informed, multicultural lens with the goal of guiding clients to understand themselves and create positive change in their inner and outer world. I am passionate about motivating my clients to meet their goals and empower them to have moments of awakening that lead to living a life with greater authenticity, resilience and emotional healing.
My goal is to create a strong therapeutic relationship to best support your journey! If you are ready to take the first step, I encourage you to schedule a consultation.
Dominique Negrette
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Psychotherapy, the Greek translation of this word being “soul healing,” is the work I believe I and our other clinicians engage in with our clients. Along with the research that Western psychologists have done over the last few centuries, I acknowledge the importance of tuning into our traditional Indigenous knowledge. Our ancestors held the power to live fulfilling lives that were integrative and holistic without the field of psychotherapy existing at a point in time. Colonization and systemic issues have affected our health, our families, and shifted our priorities in this modern day society we live in. Just like our ancestors, I am very confident that you hold the intrinsic ability to tap into your inner strength and resilience to create a life that feels meaningful.
I was born and raised in Hayward, California and received my Masters of Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco in 2021. I currently practice as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area providing services in English and Spanish to individuals and their families.
I utilize a variety of therapeutic modalities such as client-centered, psychodynamic, attachment based, narrative, solution focused, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). With the work I do with the BIPOC community, I hold a commitment to decolonize therapy and practice cultural humility with all people I work with. I hold experience working with adolescents and adults experiencing intrapersonal imbalances such as addiction issues, complex trauma, mood disorders, identity issues, interpersonal relationships, and more.
I am Native American and Mexican, and I am very proud of my culture and dedicated to helping improve the holistic wellbeing of my community members through therapeutic relationships, education, and advocacy.
Your story deserves to be heard, and I hope that I can help you tap into the tools you already have within you to make a sustainable difference in your unique human experience.
